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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
their families; and as their last resort they come to the Health Insti-
tute with some faint hope that they may find relief. This class need
sympathy. They should be treated with the greatest tenderness, and
care should be taken to make clear to their understanding the laws of
their being, that they may, by ceasing to violate them, and by govern-
ing themselves, avoid suffering and disease, the penalty of nature’s
violated law.
Dr. B is not the best adapted to fill a position as physician at the
Institute. He sees men and women ruined in constitution, who are
weak in mental and moral power, and he thinks it time lost to treat
such cases. This may be so in many cases. But he should not become
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discouraged and disgusted with sick and suffering patients. He should
not lose his pity, sympathy, and patience, and feel that his life is poorly
employed when doing for those who can never appreciate the labor
they receive, and who will not use their strength, if they regain it,
to bless society, but will pursue the same course of self-gratification
that they did in losing health. Dr. B should not become weary or
discouraged. He should remember Christ, who came in direct contact
with suffering humanity. Although, in many cases, the afflicted had
brought disease upon themselves by their sinful course in violating
natural law, Jesus pitied their weakness, and when they came to Him
with disease the most loathsome, He did not stand aloof for fear of
contamination; He touched them and bade disease give back.
“And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men
that were lepers, which stood afar off: and they lifted up their voices,
and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when He saw them,
He said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came
to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when
he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified
God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: and
he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten
cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to
give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go
thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
Here is a lesson for us all. These lepers were so corrupted by
disease that they had been restricted from society lest they should
contaminate others. Their limits had been prescribed by the authorities.
Jesus comes within their sight, and in their great suffering they cry